Black Muslim movement - Research Paper Example

Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Black Muslim Movement Summary The Black Muslim Movement was an African American religious organization with its headquarters in the United States that split in the 1970s to become the American Society of Muslims and what is known as the Nation of Islam…

Extract of sampleBlack Muslim movement

Download file to see previous pages...
Elijah Muhammad ensured that the Black Nationalist and self-governance (the group called Nation of Islam) ideals were able to reach the poor black people and those in prison. Through his leadership the organization drastically grew from 8,000 members and accumulated over 100,000 members in the 1950s and 1960s especially after the involvement of its spokesperson or minister Malcolm X 2. However, as time went on there was friction and disagreements between Muhammad and Malcolm that resulted in Malcolm being suspended in 1963 and subsequently being assassinated in 1965 most likely by Muhammad followers3. Muhammad finally died in 1975, and ultimately his son Wallace D. Muhammad (Later changed to Warith Deen Mohammed) assumed the leadership and his teachings did not insinuate much violence to black Muslims like his father. Wallace pushed for the organization to adhere to the teachings of international Islamic community that was more inclined to the Sunni Islamic norms while he also changed the group to World Community of al-Islam with its ground in the West, and later it became American Muslim Mission then to American Society of Muslims. In 1977, some members split from this group through the guidance of Louis Farrakhan since they felt that they needed more radical changes. They called themselves the Nation of Islam and they focused on reliving the teachings or footsteps of Elijah Muhammad. The Nation of Islam began accommodating traditional Islamic norms in the 1990s while Farrakhan and Mohammed publicly claimed that they had ended their long rivalry in the year 20004. Background/History of Black Islam Movement The Black Muslim Movement or what is popularly called Nation of Islam (NOI) came into being in Detroit, Michigan through the leadership of Wallace Fard Muhammad in the year 1930. The Black Muslim followers refereed to Fard as the “Mullah Fard,” “the Prophet,” he was also known as “The Great Mahdi” and even “The Savior.” His teachings to the black were that they were part of an early and long forgotten tribe called Shabazz. He cited that all white people were “devils” and therefore, a war would ensue among all races in the world and these “white devils” will ultimately be destroyed. In 1934, Fard vanished mysterious (possibly murdered by rivals) and in that instant one of his devoted followers Elijah Poole became the leader while he changed his name to Elijah Mohammed. An uprising occurred in the Temple at Detroit and therefore, Elijah had to move to Chicago where he attracted many black followers as they wished to be part of the rebellion against white power5. Elijah had been sentenced to five years (1942-1946) in jail since he agreed with Hitler and Nazi ideas while motivating blacks to refrain from joining the American army. During his time in prison, Mohammed realized that black convicts were especially the best people to support the anti-white and anti-Jewish sentiments in favor of black Muslims. Mohammad embarked spreading a message that encouraged Nazi support and black movement ideologies which converted many blacks to the group by the time he left the prison system. In 1947, a black drug dealer, robber, and rapist called Malcolm Little heard about the Black Muslims group during his time in Michigan state penitentiary. Malcolm Little stopped smoking, gambling and refrained from eating pork in a bid to adhere to the Muslim
...Download file to see next pagesRead More

Many authors in diverse fields have for a long time captured the history of African Americans. In analyzing the various accounts, one discovers that the history of African-Americans has not been that bright. Since the eras of slavery up to the days of civil rights movements, African Americans had been confined into the ‘prisons’ of political, social, economic, and cultural discrimination and inequality, hence there was little to celebrate about.

It is not through the works that are done neither on Earth nor through anything that one can do, but only in believing that God has created salvation and in accepting that salvation is entry made. In Muslim tradition, actions pave the way to Heaven.

Some theologians advocate that in addition to the belief in God and the Prophet, a number of other beliefs are also necessary to define an individual as a Muslim. Nevertheless the legal approach for defining a Muslim is much less ad hoc. Accordingly, “any person who accepts the unity of God and the prophetic character of Mohammad is a Muslim and is subjected to Musulman law (Duhaime).” Muslims had been a part of American society for centuries.

According to the report the role United States in Liberia is strong because of its historic ties. The American companies made use of the natural resources, rubber in particular, enjoying their rights through exploitation. Liberia also served the US major strategic interest of hosting security and communication amenities during Cold War.

The Nation of Islam held beliefs that black people were more superior to white individuals and that the downfall of the white race and culture was forthcoming. While the civil rights groups advocated against racial segregation, Malcolm X fought for the complete segregation of whites from African Americans.

According to the report the literature notes that the Muslim Brotherhood has positioned itself within the very center of a movement to revive Islam and to essentially lead what amounts to a global solidarity movement whose aims are to root the Islamic religion at the heart of a global political movement.

Malcolm X was affiliated with the Nation of Islam until breaking with the movement. Bobby Seale was one of the founding members of the Black Panthers.
The similarity between the men is basically the fight for the equal rights in the

This group is spread over a large area including contacts in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Poland, Russia and Switzerland, having more than 30 affiliated Web sites and chat rooms. The group’s